Automatic weigher for cattle feed and the like



June 28, 1960 L. E. MEYER 2,942,836

AUTOMATIC WEIGHER FOR CATTLE FEED AND THE LIKE Filed Oct. 20, 1958 .ii ffiil "in?" 1 YLP "1W" 1 rq4o I /24 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 I]? 75 INVENTOR LwZfl'ZI/I/eye) ATTORNEYS June 28, 1960 L. E. MEYER 2,942,836

AUTOMATIC WEIGHER FOR CATTLE FEED AND THE LIKE Filed Oct. 20, 1958 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR $6626) 11 Mayer BY M47 1' ATTORNEYS June 28, 1960 1.. E. MEYER 2,942,836

AUTOMATIC WEIGHEZR FOR CATTLE FEED AND THE. LIKE! Filed Oct. 20, 1958 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 INVENTOR Ll e') E Meyer BY WMW Jug ATTORNEYS Like.

2,942,836 Patented June 28, 1960 United States Patent Qfiice AUTOMATIC WEIGHER FOR CATTLE FEED AND THE LIKE Lester Ernest, Meyer, R.F.D. 1, lin, Iowa Filed Oct. 20, 1958, Ser. No. 768,333

4 Claims. Cl. 249-33 The present invention relates to an automatic. weigher for cattle feed and the like More particularly the present invention relates to a device formetering silage such as cattle feed from a silo or other source of supply into a suitable receptacle. 7

The present invention is an improvement over pending application, Serial No. 733,946, filed May 8, 19 58, and e n.titled' Automatic Weigher for Cattle Feed and The In addition to the objects set forth in the aforementioned pendingapplication, the present invention has foran object to provide a two compartmented oscillating hopper which is formed with upwardly converging side walls, the lower portion of the compartments thereby being formed larger than the upper portions so that bridging of the compartment discharge openings by silage is prevented.

Another object is, to provide planar-like gravity swinging gates for closing the compartment openings.

Still another object is} to provide arcuate shaped convex tracks that are secured? to the gates, andthat are adapted to be. engaged by compressible wheel members: for alternately closing the gates as the hopper oscillates.

Still another object, is to provide weight members that are secured to the convex tracks and are adjustable along the length thereof, the weight members providing: for control of the rate of movement of the gravity swinging ates.

With the foregoingzand other objects in view; the; invention will bemore-fully described hereinafter, and will be more particularly pointed out in the: claims appended hereto.

In the drawings, wherein like symbols refer to like or corresponding parts; throughout the several: views. Figure 1 isa vertical: sectional view of the automatic Weigher embodied in" the present invention witlr parts shown in elevation;

Figure 2 is a side, elevational View of: the invention illustrated. in Figure. 1;

Figure 3 is a front elevational'view of the automatic weigher in the position of use on a silo and disposed belowthe silo discharge spout for receiving'si'lage therefrom;

Figure 4- is a front elevational view of the automatic weigherin. the neutral position, wherein the gravity swinginggates: arelocated, in the closed positionzth'ereofj Figure 5 is an elevational; view" similar to Figure 4, showing the automatic: weigher in. the. oscillated position whereby the left-hand? gravity swinging door is open;

Figure 6: is an elevational view similar to Figure 5 showing: the automatic weigher in the opposite position whereby the righthand gravity swinging gateis open;

Figure7 i'si a'horizontal'sectional view of a gate retainihg'wheel member;

" Figure 8 is a perspective view of one of the gravity swinging discharge gates;

Figure 9'is a fragmentary view in perspective of the bearing for the hopper shaft;

Figure 10 is a vertical sectional view taken along lines 10-10 in Figure I, and

Figure 11 is a front elevational view of the hopper illustrating the adjustable counterweights and an alternative counter-weight construction.

Referring now to the drawings and for the present to Figures 1, 2 and 3, a two-compartment oscillating type weighing hopper is illustrated and is generally indicated at 10. The weighing hopper 10 is shown supported by a frame, generally indicated at 12, which is adapted to be mounted on overhead beams 14, the overhead beams 14 being secured to and projecting outwardly from a silo housing 16. The hopper 10 is positioned immediately below the spout of a discharge chute 18' of the silo housing 16 and is elevated suiiiciently above the ground to provide. for the passage of a truck or other receptacle thereunder, the truck or receptacle being adapted to receive the measured feed as delivered by the automatic weigher or hopper 10.

The frame 12 includes spaced upper L-sections 20 to which are secured by welding, brazing or the like two pairs of spaced vertical standards 24 and 26. Each pair of standards 24, 26 are spaced apart by horizontal rods 28 which are preferably enclosed by rubber sleeves 30, the purpose of which: will be set forth hereinafter. Secured to the vertical standards 24', 26 and spaced below the upper L-sections are hopper supports or side beams 32 which are also L-shaped. in section. As shown in Figure 3, the upper L-sections have U-shaped' hangers 33 secured thereto which are adapted to receive the overhead beams 14 therein for hanging the frame =12 and hopper 10- thereon. It is understood that only one form of frame and supporting'structure is illustrated for suspending the automatic weighing device from the silo housing 18 and other equivalent structures may be utilized without departing. from the spirit of the invention. It. is further understood that the automatic weigher may be spaced further from the silo housing 16 if desired and/or suitable extension chute may be provided for conveying the feed to the weigher.

Referring now to Figure l, the hopper 10 is shown including a front wall 34, rear wall 36, upwardly converging side walls 38, 40, and a central partition 42 which divides the. hopper into two equal opposed compartments 44 and 46. The uppermost ends of the compartments 44, 46 areexposed and define inlets for the silage that is received from the spout of the discharge chute 18. By forming the hopper 10 with the upwardly converging side walls 38, 40, the compartments 44, 46 are formed with the lower portions thereof larger than the upper portions. It is seen that this construction will prevent bridging of the silage as it is discharged from the compartments since the smaller upper compartment portions will, in effect, meter the feed into the compartment interiors. Once the silage has passed through the smaller upper inlet opening, passage through the larger discharge open ings is assured and bridging of the compartments by the silage is thereby avoided.

Secured to the lower end of the: central partition 42 and extending: downwardly therefrom are, spaced partition walls 48 and 50 that cooperate with the central partition 42 to define the separate compartments 4'4 and 46. As seen in Figure 1:, the uppermost. ends of the partition walls 48, 50 are formed: with" offset portions that causes the partition Walls to extend downwardly at a slight pitch, the offset portions also providing sufiicient spacing between the. partition walls'for accommodating the main shaft of the hopper as will be described hereinafter.

The lowermost ends of the partition walls 48, 50 terminate somewhat below the side walls 38, 40 and define therewith inclined discharge openings 52 and 54- respectively (see Figures and 8). The discharge openings or exits 52, 54 are controlled by pivotally mounted doors or gates 56, 58 one of which isillustrated in Figure 8. As shown in Figure 8, the gate 58 is planar-like in construction and includes side flanges 60 that may fit either within or without the side wall 40. The gate 58 is further formed with a rolled extension that defines a bearing 62 which is adapted to freely rotate about a pin or trunnion 64, the trunnion 64 being secured in the front and rear walls 34, 36. I

' The hopper 10 is adapted to oscillate on the frame 12 as the silage is alternately poured into and exhausted from the compartments 44 and 46 and for this purpose is provided with a shaft 66 that is suitably secured to the front and rear walls 34, 36. Referring to Figure 1 the shaft 66 is shown extending between the spaced partition walls 48, 50 and sufficient clearance is provided between the partition walls to accommodate the shaft so that the hopper 10 may freely oscillate with the shaft. As shown more clearly in Figure 9, U-bolts 70 are fitted over the outer end portions of the shaft 66 in bearing relation therewith, the free ends of the end bolts extending through suitable openings in the side beams 32. Nuts 72 threadedly engage the bolt ends beneath the horizontal web of the side beam 32 and retain the U-bolts in position therein. The shaft includes sleeves 7 4 having flanges 76 that extend over an extensive area of the rear and front walls of the hopper 10 and are secured thereto by welding, bolting or other suitable means, the shaft thereby being adapted to mount the hopper 10 for oscillating movement on the frame 12.

In order to assist the hopper 10 in remaining in the silage receiving position until the next oscillating movement occurs, counterweights 77 are provided and are mounted by suitable means on the front and rear walls 34, 36 adjacent the upper ends thereof. The counterweights are triangular in configuration, the apex of the triangles pointing downwardly, and it is seen as the hopper 10 is oscillated to and fro to the position shown in Figures 5 and 6, the counterweights will be shifted beyond the pivotal axis of the shaft 66. Thus the counterweights 77 assist in retaining the hopper in the oscillated position until the silage entering the opposite compartment is suflicient to swing the hopper to the opposed position.

During the operation of the device, the hopper 10 is adapted to oscillate back and forth alternately presenting the compartments 44, 46 for communication with the delivery spout of the chute 18. As seen in Figures 4, 5

and 6, as each compartment receives the silage from the chute 18, the discharge opening therefor must be closed by its corresponding gate. In order to retain the gates 56, 58 in the closed position during the operation of the device, wheel members 78 and 80 are provided and include rubber tires 82, 84, the wheel members being rotatably mounted between the vertical standards 24, 26 on horizontal cross bars 86 and 88 respectively. Since the discharge gates 56, 58 must be retained in the closed position under sufiicient pressure to prevent leakage of the silage from the hopper compartments, the rubber tires 82, 84 must be compressed, and for this purpose the gates 56, 58 have arcuate shaped tracks 90, 92 secured across the length thereof respectively. As seen in Figures 1 and 4-6, the rubber tires 82, 84 are adapted to engage their respective tracks 90, 92 and due to the bowed con- :figura'tion of the tracks, the resilient material of the tires is compressed when the corresponding gate is moved to the closed position thereof. Accordingly, as the hopper oscillates from the position shown in Figure 5 to the position shown in Figure 6, the gates will be positively the pouring spout of the chute 18.

Referring to Figure 7, the wheel member 78 is shown in more detail, it being understood that wheel member 4 is constructed in a similar manner. The wheel member 78 includes discs 94 and 96 which carry a rim 98 on their outer ends, the tire 82 being mounted thereon. An inner race sleeve 100 is fixed to the non-rotary axle or horizontal cross bar 86, and outer rotary race rings 162, 104 are arranged outwardly of the inner race sleeve 160 with ball bearings 106 interposed between the inner and outer parts 100, 102 and 104. The rotary discs 94, 96 abut against shoulders 108 of the inner race sleeve 100 so as to preserve the alignment of the wheel 78 centrally of the convex outer surface of the track 90'.

During the operation of the hopper it is understood that the arcuate surfaces of the tracks 90, 92 ride upwardly on the wheel members and particularly on the rubber tires 82, 84, compression of the tires taking place that results in a distortion of the rubber body of the tires. Since the rubber tires have inherent elasticity, this elastic pressure will be exerted against the gates 56, 58, snapping them to a closed position and retaining the gates tightly closed as the opposite compartment is'being filled. This assures discharge of feed only at such times when the discharge gates are fully opened.

In order to fix the outer position of the hopper 10 during the oscillating movement thereof, the horizontal stop rods 28 are provided and as described above are preferably equipped with rubber sleeves 30 which are adapted to eliminate noise and jarring when the upper portions of the side walls 38 and 40 of the hopper strike the rubber sleeves during the oscillating movement of the hopper. It is seen that the stop rods 28 act as limit stops to predetermine the degree of oscillating movement of the hopper 10.

In order to regulate the rate of opening of the gates 56, 58 as the hopper alternately moves the compartments 44, 46 into register with the pouring spout of the chute 18, weights 110 are provided, one of which is shown in Figure 10 mounted on the track 92. The weight 110 is secured to the track 92 by a bolt 112 which extends through opposed clips 114 that have a flange 116 formed on the underside thereof. The flange 116 fits below the underside of the track 92 and as the bolt 112 is tightened on a nut 118, the weight 110 is securely fastened to the track 92. This construction also provides for simple adjustment of the weight along the length of the track 92, since it is only necessary to loosen the bolt 116 and then slide the weight 110 to the desired position. It is seen that by moving the weight 110 along the tracks 90, 92 the Weight distribution of the gates 56, 58 may be adjusted to obtain the desired rate of movement thereof as the hopper 10 oscillates.

In operation and referring to Figures 4, 5 and 6, the

hopper 10 is first illustrated in the upright or neutral wherein the right-hand compartment 44 is positioned immediately below the spout of the delivery chute 18. Feed or silage from the silo or other source is then permitted to descend under suitable control into the right-hand compartment 46. Once the hopper 10 is tilted manually the weight of the hopper and the counterweights 77 will retain the hopper in this position until the weight of the feed introduced into compartment 44 from the chute 18 overcomes the weight of the hopper and the counterweights 77 and will cause the hopper to tilt to the opposite position shown in Figure 6. In this position, the discharge gate 56 under the added influence of the weight 110 moves out of engagement with the wheel member 78 and drops .downwardly as shown to open the discharge opening 52,

whereby the feed may be gradually discharged from the compartment 44 through the opening 52 and into a waiting receptacle, truck body or the like.

Incident to the tilting movement of the hopper 10 to the position shown in Figure 6, the opposed gate 58, under the added influence of the Weight 110, swings to the closed pi sitiofn, the track 92 moving up on the wheel m mber 80. and the wheel member 80 rotating therewithso that the ate 58 is automatically closed at the same time that the left compartment 46 of the hopper is brought beneath the delivery chute 18.

The rate of delivery of the feed or silage through chute 18 can be regulated so that the right-hand compartment 44 completes evacuation approximately at the same time that the left-hand compartment 46 is filled to a capacity. The hopper is then overbalanced and a re-tilting thereof occurs back to the position shown in Figure 5. In this position, the track 90 of the gate 56 once again rides up on the wheel member 78 to close the gate 56 while the opposite gate 58 is being released from engagement with wheel member 80 and swinging downwardly to the open position thereof. In this manner the hopper oscillates :back and forth automatically without the application of :any power but simply by the alternate transfer of the load of the feed in sequence from one compartment to the other.

mined volume and capacity, the charges of feed as to By forming these compartments of a predeterweight and volume can be very accurately calculated, so

that for a given number of alternating oscillating movements of the hopper a predetermined quantity of the feed or silage rnay be delivered. A counter or register may be employed to count the number of oscillations of the hopper and in so doing establish a record of the quantity of feed that has been dispensed.

Depending upon the weight and amount of silage being delivered, it may also be desirable to shift the position of the counterweight 77 to insure that the hopper will be being mounted in the front and rear walls of the hopper. 'Wing nuts 124 engage the bolts and are adapted to secure the counterweights in the desired adjusted position.

It has been found that in the handling of different weight materials, or lesser amounts of material, a different distribution of load is present in the hopper and that a counterweight located adjacent the bottom of the hopper is most effective for the operation thereof. Referring again to Figure 11, an alternative counterweight construction is illustrated and includes a slot 126 formed in the front wall 34 between the partition walls 48, 50. It is understood that the rear wall 36 would be formed in a similar manner. A counterweight 128 is adjustably mounted in the slot 126 by means of a wing nut 130 and is adapted to be adjusted vertically in accordance with the weight and amount of the material being distributed. The lower counterweight 128 will generally not be employed with the upper counterweight 77 and will only be used when a lesser amount of material is to be weighed. Thus when larger or heavier amounts are to be distributed by the hopper, the bottom weight 128 will be removed.

Since the hopper 10 is formed with the upwardly diverging side walls 38, 40, the flow of the feed or silage through the compartment will be unimpeded and bridging of the larger discharge openings 52, 54 by the silage will be prevented.

By the use of the present invention, farmers may call for accurate amounts of feed to satisfy stock requirements which vary from time to time and thus there will be no Waste and substantial savings will result since oversupplies will be avoided. Farmers will also find the device particularly useful as an adjunct to silos in automatically weighing the silage as it is delivered from the silo. Of course it is understood that the invention has uses in other connections and may be employed with materials other than cattle feed.

Although the best form of the invention has been disclosed herein, the right is reserved to all such modifications and changes as may'e'enie seop of tire following claims.

What I claim is:

1. In an automatic weigher for cattle feed and the like, a fian'ie, a two-compartment hopper mounted for oscillating movement on said frame, said hopper including pw rdly converging side walls that terminate at the top of said hopper to define inlet openings and at the bottom of said hopper to define discharge openings, said discharge openings being larger than said inlet openings so that bridging of said discharge openings is prevented, gravity controlled discharge gates pivotally mounted on the lower end of said hopper and alternately opening and closing said discharge openings during the oscillating movement of said hopper, arcuate shaped tracks secured to said gates, weight means adjustably mounted on said arcuate tracks and movable along the length thereof to control the rate of movement of said gates, and means mounted on said frame and adapted to engage said tracks for retaining said gates in the closed position thereof.

2. An automatic weigher for silage comprising a frame, a hopper mounted for oscillating movement on said frame, said hopper including a central partition for dividing said hopper into two similar compartments and the side walls of said compartments converging upwardly so that the lower portion of said compartments is larger than the upper portion whereby bridging at the lower end of said compartments by said silage is prevented, discharge openings formed in the lower end of said compartments, gates pivotally secured to said hopper and adapted to alternately open and close said openings by gravity movement, said gates pivotally moving in response to the oscillating movement of said hopper, having a convex track secured thereto, weight means operatively connected to said gates for controlling the rate of movement thereof, said weight means being mounted on said tracks and adjustably movable along the length thereof, and resilient means mounted on said frame for engaging said tracks and retaining said gates in the closed position thereof.

3. An automatic weigher for silage comprising a twocompartment hopper mounted for oscillating movement beneath a spoutfor discharging silage, each of said compartments adapted to sequentially register with said spout for receiving silage therefrom as said hopper oscillates, said hopper including upwardly converging side walls for forming the lower portions of said compartments larger than the upper portions, whereby bridging of the lower portion by said silage is prevented, discharge openings formed in the bottom of said compartments, pivotally mounted planar-like gates secured to said hopper for closing said openings and adapted to normally open and close by gravity as said hopper oscillates, means adapted to alternately engage said doors as said hopper oscillates for retaining said doors in the closed position thereof, convex shaped tracks secured to the outer side of said planar-like gates, said tracks being adapted to be engaged by said retaining means when said gates are moved to the closed position thereof, and weight means mounted on said tracks and adapted to be adjusted along the length thereof for controlling the rate of pivotal move ment of said gravity swinging gates.

4. An automatic weigher for silage comprising a frame adapted to be supported under a silo spout for discharging silage, a two-compartment hopper mounted for 0scillating movement on said frame, each of said compartments adapted to sequentially register with said spout for receiving silage therefrom as said hopper oscillates, discharge openings formed in the bottom of said compartments, pivotally mounted planar-like gates secured to said hopper for closing said openings and adapted to normally open and close by swinging gravity movement as said hopper oscillates, a convex track secured to each of said gates, and weight means mounted on each track for ,adjustable movement along the length thereof, said weight 345,35 3 means controlling the fate of pivotal movement of said I 394,665

gravity swinging gates. 441,225 5 References Cited in the file of this patent 5 5 525,765 UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,100,120 223,692

Allen Jan. 20, 1880 8 Witt July 13, 1886 Springer et a1 Dec. 18, 1888 Black Nov. 25, 1890 Wyman et a1. Jan. 10, 1893 Kanne Sept. 11, 1894 Carter June 16, 1914 

